Game Recap 5/19/23 | Guardians Lose 9-10 at N.Y. Mets

3 Observations from the Game

3 things Guardians win 3-1 over Mets:

1 – Lindor walk-off 

Former Cleveland star Francisco Lindor has a wonderful game going 3 for 6 with the game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning against Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase.  YIKES

2 – Bullpen woes

Speaking about the Guards bullpen, they had a rough night as Cleveland had a lead at 7-3 in the bottom of the 7th when reliever Sam Hentges could not get an out, loading the bases.  Terry Francona gave the ball to James Karinchak who promptly gave up the game-tying grand slam to Mets slugger Pete Alonso.  Clase was brought in to save the game in the 10th, Guards were up 9-7, but as mentioned above could not hold the lead.   UGH

3 – Terrible loss 

It is a long season, and certainly, one game never defines a season in 162.  However, this was a gut-wrenching loss on a night when the offense scored nine runs.  This is one of the moments of the season where we need to see how the Guardians handle the loss.  Can this team recover, and turn it around? Or are we all hitting the panic button and planning Shane Bieber trades? LORDY PLEASE SAY IT IS OPTION ONE

Game Summary

In a remarkable comeback, the New York Mets defeated the Cleveland Guardians with a score of 10-9 on Friday night. Pete Alonso’s grand slam in the seventh inning tied the game, and Francisco Lindor’s RBI single in the 10th secured the victory.

The Guardians initially took a commanding 5-0 lead, with Gabriel Arias hitting a two-run homer in the top of the 10th against Drew Smith. However, the Mets fought back in the bottom half of the inning, as Mark Vientos and Francisco Álvarez delivered RBI singles against Emmanuel Clase to tie the game. Brandon Nimmo then reached base with an infield single, setting the stage for Lindor’s crucial hit, which sailed past diving second baseman Andrés Gimenez.

This win marked the Mets’ third consecutive victory. Their winning streak began when they overcame multiple late-inning deficits and Alonso sealed the Wednesday night game against the Tampa Bay Rays with a game-ending three-run homer.

The Guardians’ Josh Naylor played a significant role in his team’s offense, recording five RBIs and launching a three-run homer in the first inning. The Mets, who have struggled in the opening innings this season, found themselves in an early hole once again, trailing 5-0.

New York has now allowed the opposing team to score the first run in 13 consecutive games.

The Guardians extended their lead with RBI singles by Cam Gallagher and Amed Rosario. However, the Mets launched their comeback in the fifth inning against Cal Quantrill, with Álvarez hitting a home run and Jeff McNeil adding an RBI single. In the sixth inning, Brett Baty led off with a homer.

Sam Hentges, who had retired Álvarez as the potential tying run in the sixth, stumbled in the seventh by allowing the first three batters to reach base. James Karinchak faced a 3-1 count against Alonso before the powerful first baseman blasted a home run to right-center, equalizing the score at 7-7.

Alonso’s celebration was exuberant as he rounded first base, yelling and taking a few steps backward while gesturing toward the home dugout. This marked his third career grand slam and extended his home run streak to four consecutive games, matching his personal record set in 2019.

Quantrill pitched admirably for the Guardians, conceding three runs and striking out a season-high six over 5 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, Mets starter Carlos Carrasco, who had been sidelined with right elbow inflammation since April 15, gave up five runs in five innings.

The matchup between the Mets and the Guardians held significant meaning as it was their first meeting since their trade on January 7, 2021. The trade involved the Mets acquiring Carrasco and Lindor from Cleveland in exchange for Giménez, Rosario, and minor leaguers Isaiah Greene and Josh Wolf. Both teams have benefited from the trade, as highlighted by Mets manager Buck Showalter’s positive assessment.

Up Next

Saturday – Game 2 at New York Mets at 4:10 PM EST. RHP Tanner Bibee (1-1, 3.22 ERA) has allowed two runs or fewer in three of his first four big league starts. Mets RHP Max Scherzer (3-2, 4.88 ERA) won last Sunday in his return from an 11-day absence due to a sore neck.